Ode to a Rusty Spinner Rack

In the memory of a dim-lit store,

By the counter, near the door,

Stands a guardian of fantastic lore,

A rusty spinner rack, that kids adore.

From '70s days when I was young,

Its creaky arms my heartstrings strung,

Spinning tales in colorful hues,

Of caped crusaders and cosmic crews.

Rusty now, but gleaming then,

It housed the minds of comic book men,

Of Kirby’s Gods and Ditko’s dreams,

Of cosmic rays and optic beams.

Each spin a treasure, an endless quest,

For evildoers’ never rest.

With Green Lantern’s ring or Mjolnir’s might,

The Darkness was banished by the light.

Oh, spinner rack, your metal gleams,

Held worlds of wonder, bound my dreams.

With covers bright and brave and bold,

Of secret wars and legends told.

In the dream your colors do fade,

But in my heart, you’ve always stayed.

From thwip and snikt to Hulk’s great roar,

You were the sound to every score.

In you I found the Justice League,

And mutant rights, and tense intrigue.

I swore by Krypton and Cap’s mighty shield,

And a universe would be revealed.

The Flash’s speed and Shang-Chi’s grace,

Each corner box a familiar face

From Gotham's streets to Asgard’s skies,

Magic realms immersed my eyes.

You spun me stories, week by week,

Your stacks were intricately deep,

With Heroes for Hire, DC's Dark Knight,

Or Daredevil’s senses, but never his sight.

Now rust and creaks will tell your tale,

Of countless turnings, without fail.

Through decades past, you’ve stood your ground,

A time machine where dreams were found.

So here’s to you, my metal friend,

Your spinning days have come to an end.

But in each comic, dusty, worn,

A universe you held was born.

Though you may rust and slowly bend,

Your tales of heroism never end.

For every creak and every spin,

New dreams, new worlds, may now begin

O spinner rack, in you I trust,

Though covered now in time’s soft dust,

You hold the lore, the dreams intact,

Of every comic’s faded tract.

So here’s my ode, my endless cheer,

To you, old friend, I shed a tear.

You’ve spun my world, you’ve shaped my past,

In your embrace, my dreams were cast.

From ‘70s dawn to modern day,

Your tales of wonder still hold sway.

So rust away, but never lose,

The magic spun by your brown screws.

For you, old friend, forever stand,

A portal to some faraway land.

With every spin, a legend was born,

And in your absence, my heart’s still torn.

by Herm (2024/07/21)